cain recognizes -- megyn: don't forget on "america live" a couple of days ago. >> reporter: absolutely. that's a huge, huge boost, megyn, and that's why the candidates are clamoring to get on the show with you. [laughter] megyn: wait, let me ask you this, and there's another winner in this poll, and that's mitt romney who had front runner status for a short time, and then rick perry bumped him out of it. he's back on top. >> reporter: well, listen, the story of herman cain's ascent is the other side of a coin that talks about rick perry's descent. the perform in the de-- the performance b in the debate, his disappointment in the straw poll in florida is really an illustration of how it is that mr. cain has benefited so directly. romney has run the slow and steady tortoise campaign. he's been hovering in the low 20%, he's been raising more money than the rest of the candidates and trying to avoid the scrutiny of a front runner. herman cain and rick perry, rick perry has experienced the...